Grace Presbyterian Church
Seeking to equip people to live as Christian disciples wherever God has placed them.
Prelude At the Lamb’s high feast we sing Jan Bender
Responsive Call to Worship
Leader: Creator God, we seek you.
People: Risen Christ, we rely on you.
Leader: Holy Spirit, you are our life and our breath.
People: We thank you for always being with us.
Leader: When we are lonely you comfort us, when we are poor you enrich us, when we are lost you guide us.
All: You are always with us. We worship you in gratitude, with open hearts.
Opening Prayer
Hymn Green 8* “Gather Us In”
Here in this place new light is streaming
Now is the darkness vanished away
See in this space our fears and our dreamings
Brought here to you in the light of this day
Gather us in, the lost and forsaken
Gather us in, the blind and the lame
Call to us now and we shall awaken
We shall arise at the sound of our name
We are the young, our lives are a mystery
We are the old who yearn for your face
We have been sung throughout all of history
Called to be light to the whole human race
Gather us in, the rich and the haughty
Gather us in, the proud and the strong
Give us a heart so meek and so lowly
Give us the courage to enter the song
Here we will take the wine and the water
Here we will take the bread of new birth
Here you shall call
your sons and your daughters
Call us anew to be salt for the earth
Give us to drink the wine of compassion
Give us to eat the bread that is you
Nourish us well and teach us to fashion
Lives that are holy and hearts that are true
Not in the dark of buildings confining
Not in some heaven light years away
But here in this place the new light is shining
Now is the kingdom, now is the day
Gather us in and hold us forever
Gather us in and make us your own
Gather us in, all peoples together
Fire of love in our flesh and our bone.
Confession of Sin Green 64 “Give me a Clean Heart”
Declaration of Pardon
Gloria Patri
Passing of the Peace
Prayer for Illumination Sung in Unison Speak, O Lord
Speak, O Lord, as we come to you,
to receive the food of your holy word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
shape and fashion us in your likeness,
that the light of Christ might be seen today
in our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us all your purposes,
for Your glory.
Teach us Lord, full obedience,
holy reverence, true humility.
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
in the radiance of your purity.
Cause our faith to rise,
cause our eyes to see
your majestic love and authority.
Words of power that can never fail,
let their truth prevail over unbelief.
Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
help us grasp the heights of your plans for us.
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time,
that will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we’ll stand on your promises;
and by faith we’ll walk as you walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, till Your church is built
and the earth is filled with your glory.
First Scripture Reading (Unison) Hebrews 11:8-12; 1 7-19
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old—and Sarah herself was barren—because he considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, “as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.”By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son, of whom he had been told, “It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you.” He considered the fact that God is able even to raise someone from the dead—and figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
Scripture Lesson Genesis 22:1-19
After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away. Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you.” Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. Isaac said to his father Abraham, “Father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together.
When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”
Then the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven, and said, “By Myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son, indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your ]seed all the nations of the earth shall [i]be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham lived at Beersheba.
Sermon The Akedah Norma Prescott
Hymn Green 42* “We Bow Down”
You are Lord of creation
and Lord of my life,
Lord of the land and the sea;
you were Lord of the heavens
before there was time,
and Lord of all lords You will be.
We bow down, and we worship you, Lord;
we bow down, and we worship you, Lord;
we bow down, and we worship you, Lord;
Lord of all lords you will be.
You are King of creation
and King of my life,
King of the land and the sea.
You were King of the heavens
before there was time,
and King of all kings You will be.
We bow down, and we crown you the King;
we bow down, and we crown you the King;
we bow down and we crown You the King;
King of all kings you will be.
Affirmation of Faith Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten not made, one in being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Offertory This joyful Eastertide Jan Bender
Doxology
Pastoral Prayers/The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn Green 41* “He is Exalted”
He is exalted.
the King is exalted on high;
I will praise him.
He is exalted, forever exalted,
and I will praise his name!
He is the Lord,
forever his truth shall reign;
heaven and earth
rejoice in his holy name.
He is exalted.
the King is exalted on high.
Benediction
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